Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-12-09
Outing in the Wilda Of Arkansas


J. keep unbroken the records of year
Perhaps, If | had taken them hon
with me and they had been rewritten
l could have given something c
, grace and yigor TO the dictation. Bu
B as they are, they are true to natui
and so we prefer them.
They were written at night, by th
1ickering light of candle, at inter
walls, while the deacon played III
hand In very innocent little gam,
for amusement, which we had. an
are what they are.
We might have killed more dee
had not all Arkansas been on fire
but in any event could not have ha,
more pleasant "outing" anon
more congenial friends or truer gen
uemen. AUSTIN PEAY.
HUNTING IN ARKANSAS.
November 8, 1887, the day set an,
appointed for our start on our annua
hunt in Arkansas, and which ha
been long looked forward TO witt
joyful anticipations, arrived, as wa
10 be expected. Through the kind
ness of Capt. Gracey, the most of ou
horses, dogs and equipments wcr,
loaded on at Newstoad on the l., A
" Il. II. II. and transported to Clarks
vile free of charge. At Clarksyill,
were assembled the following hunt
ers ready to go: Samuel r. White
Capt, Jas. s. Parrish, Lyman Nc.
Comb, Henry Drane, Henry Bryant
VIII Davis Garnett, Tom and 1andy
Wadlington, William CIavens, EN-.
met Caudle, William Lowry and
Austin Peay. 4. 7. Burke, who wa.
to join us at Memphis, was heard
from by telegram. We had five SER
wants, with our old cook Bill, and
twenty-nine hounds. This was the
personnel Of the hunt, many of them
veterans in the cause-some of them
gray, grizzled in service, and some
new and inexperienced.
At 4 80 o'clock the freight train,
with all Of our equipments, left for
Memphis, with Capt. White and my
self In charge. The others were to
follow on the passenger at night.
They passed us at Paris. The Cap
tain and l had rough old time to
Paris. The old caboose in which we
rode was travesty on public i'm
provements. 1t had no shutters 10
Its Windows, and the cold wind and
ram came driving in, and we alter
nately froze and thawed In sections,
for we had nothing but our over
coats, which only protected portion
of our bodies at time. AT midnight
q brakeman shook us out of uneasy
slumber and shouted: Parisl Said
|, hardly awake, "Where Is the beau
tiful Helen ?" And the Captain,
carefully removing his feet from
Bills lap, where thoy'had been rest
ing, entered into quite a lengthy
conversation for him, and said, IN
his deep gutterals, "Let's go and get
some supper" We went, and being
of generous and conflding natures,
will call IL supper.
From Paris TO Memphis we had
good, comfortable caboose and slept
reasonably well. But how this
train does linger and loitor by the
wayside. 1t seems to have person.
al acquaintance with every little
town, and stops and gossips like a
woman. Nearly II o'clock, and
Memphis still in the distance.
Last night ii threatened rain, and
we were thankful, but to-day the
clouds are gone, the same old drought
prevails, the sun shines clear and hot,
and the heavens are as innocent of
moisture as the skies of Arizona.
Reached Memphis at 2 p m. and
found the other men impatiently
awaiting our arrival. The horses
were taken Off and well fed at JEFF
Forests stable. -Four O'Clock found
the freight all loaded on and ready to
start on the transfer boat for tho
side, but here hitch in the
occurred and Capt.
White and l remained until 2 o'clock
in the morning, sitting on the banks
of the river awaiting transportation.
1t Is useless TO say that was some-
what out of sorts, and that the Cap.
tain was exceedingly profane in the
few remarks that he made. There
we sat for eight mortal hours, and
"yet we would not CO." The night
watchman demonstrated against our
fire, but all the same we kept 1t burn
Ing. TO cover the delinquencies of
that night, new commandment
must prevail: Thou shalt not burn
thy neighbor's nail kegs"
Three o'clock, and we were over
and nearly frozen, sought out the ca
boose attached to our freight train
and only found it, to find it filed with
negro roustabouts, occupying all
available space and no sleep for us
to be had.
Morning, and things became more
cheerful. At 2 o'clock p. m. we
reached Surrounded Hill, our desti-
nation, and found tired lot of hunt
ers awaiting us. Soon we were un-
loaded and moved along the road for
camp, seven or eight miles distant.
The dogs were refractory, and gave
us some trouble before we got off
from the town, but they soon snuffed
the Arkansas woods, remembered
their old haunts, and Travelled at
rattling gait for our old camp
ground ON Fish Lake. Dark and we
were there. Some fisherman had
his tent up on our former site and
through the woods shone lumi-
mons the campfire Of Tan
ner and his Illinois COM
rades. A little up the lake we packed
our wagons, fed our stock, and
roaring fire lit up the darkness. Sup
per for hungry men was forthcoming
In half hour. Cold Kentucky ham
and turkey, biscuit and light bread
and Bills famous black coffee. How
we enjoyed it! Too tired to be po-
lite, but hunger and its satisfaction
reigned supreme.
Supper over, the men sat around
the fire and smoked Kentucky swap
ned Jokes with Illinois-for Tanner
aud his men came down on visit,
bringing a haunch of fresh venison
from A doe. which on that day had
fallen to Tanners unerring Winches-
ter. -
No tents are up tonight, but be-
meath the broad and starlit canopy OF
The heavens we sleep. and sleep so
soundly and sweetly The very ar
we breath seems TO be weighted with
a new life. Far above, the lofty oaks
rear their proud crests, and through